Calling Pass Plays

We number our routes for the X,Y, and Z and name them for the A and B, to send 5 out we would call something like Northern 879post, A fan right. If we don't call a route for the A or B they would stay in to block.

In "PRO" sets - number from Weakside Receiver (SE) to Inside Receiver (TE) to Strongside Receiver (Flanker).

In "SLOT" sets - number from Weakside Receiver (B/S WR or TE) to Inside Receiver (Slot) to Strongside Receiver (Split End).

This is STANDARD for all NFL & College teams that use the famous "Coryell Route Number Tree".

I've done the route tree numbering approach. If you are running an offense that relies heavily on the passing game, then I think it is great because it gives you endless options for route combinations. In the run-oriented offense I'm most fond to, we tend to use a slightly different approach. In our play action we had a set route combination, and if we wanted to change something on the fly, we simply tagged that route. For instance, we might call 544 veer pass. 500 series signaled play-action to the line, 44 is the veer play we were faking, and the veer pass had a fade to the SE, TE ran the seam (looking for the ball after breaking beyond the LB's), running back running a flair. If we wanted our TE to run an arrow because the ILB's were not biting up, but OLB's were flying in, we would just call 544 veer pass Y arrow. When it was all said and done, we had roughly a dozen base pass plays that we could change up with tags. When we first started using this, I was a bit skeptical because I had used the passing tree approach, but when I thought about it, even the passing tree numbering became pretty standard. Certain combinations just work well together.

Coaches thank you very much for taking the time to send your thoughts on my topic I really appreicate it and it is really nice that coaches are willing to help other coaches.

TrojanPride very good idea, I agree with you about the kids and that they do better with words. We have Spring Ball coming up and I will see which one they handle the best. Thanks for your thoughts.

#1 Don Coryell Route Tree

By Warren Simmons – TE Coach Washington Redskins


Receivers’ routes are designed to look like trees. Branches shoot off “tree trunks” in one direction or another and in ever-increasing distances from the base.

Routes go either inside or outside, toward or away from the sideline. Even-numbered routes go inside in the Redskins scheme, odd numbers outside.

The routes are numbered, 1 through 9, with 1 being closest to the line of scrimmage and 9 being a deep route toward the end zone.

“An example would be a 1 (outside) route, where our receivers run that short stop route, which we call a hitch”, Simmons said. As you go up the tree, a 1 is a hitch, the 2 is what we call a “slant” at the same depth, five yards. All the numbers have different yardage corresponding to the route. When we call a number, they know the depth of the route, and whether they’re breaking in or out”.

A 3 route is an outside break at 13 yards (“out”), and a 4 is an inside break at 13 yards (“in”). A 5 is an outside break at 15 yards (“comeback”) while a 6 is coming back inside at 15 yards (“curl”). A 7 is a “post-corner” move where, at about 15 yards, the receiver fakes inside then breaks back to the corner. An 8 is the actual “post” route. A 9 goes for the bundle in the end zone (“up”).

The routes are packaged to match the number of receivers on the field and are coordinated depending on what the offense is trying to do to the defense. While it is a package, though, the routes are independent of each other.

And there are what Simmons calls “the adjustments”, the multiple variations for each pattern depending on what the defense is doing from the time the huddle breaks to when the ball is snapped. Each receiver must read the defense in his own area and react. The quarterback must read the entire field, then get the ball to the correct “adjusted” spot.

“It’s a memory thing first, but then it has to become instinctive for the receiver to be effective”, Simmons said. “And if there’s an adjustment and the receiver and quarterback aren’t on the same page – well, I guess you know what can happen then”.


#2 MORE ON THE DON CORYELL ROUTE TREE:
The Lion playbook goes back to Dan Henning’s days in San Diego. After leaving Washington to become the Chargers’ head coach in 1989, Henning installed what amounted to a one-RB power offense with two tight ends.
When Bobby Ross took over the Chargers in ’92, he left the basis of Henning’s offense intact while incorporating some of his own ideas. Now the Lions’ head coach, Ross has taken the system and terminology he used in San Diego — which helped the Chargers earn a Super Bowl berth after the ’94 season — and brought them to Detroit.
But it goes even further back than that.
"A great deal of it goes back years and years to the Sid Gillman era and to the Don Coryell era," said Lion offensive coordinator Sylvester Croom, who was Ross’ RB coach in San Diego before the pair moved to Detroit. "A lot of these systems are hybrids or have their core terms from 30, 40, 50 years ago, really.
"A lot of passing games are in three digits, where you call the wide receiver and the tight end. The routes are numbered. You’ve got dive plays, trap plays. But the common language starts from what we learned when we played or from other coaches who preceded us. Then, we add our own ideas as we go through our careers."
Here is an example of an offensive play using Detroit’s terminology: twins right scram left 585 crab...


First, let’s set the scene. It’s 3rd-and-7, with the ball on the 50-yard line. The call is sent in from the sideline, and the quarterback repeats the instructions to his teammates. The players break the huddle and move into position.
The first part of the play, "twins right," sets the formation. It tells the tight end and two receivers (twins) to line up on the right side of the offensive line, with a third receiver positioned on the left side, or, in this case, the weak side.
The Lions have specific letters for their wide receivers. In this play, the Z receiver is lined up in the slot on the right side, the H receiver lines up to the Z’s right on the outside and the X receiver is the lone pass catcher on the weak side.
"Scram left" is the protection, telling the tight end to stay in and block. The "585" are the routes that each receiver will run. From left to right, it tells the X to run a "5" route, the Z to run an "8" route and the H to run a "5" route.
Teams usually number their routes from zero to nine. In this play, the two outside receivers will run comeback routes to the outside ("5"), and the slot receiver will run a vertical route straight downfield ("8"). "Crab" refers to the route that the running back will run. On a crab route, the running back swings around to the outside to catch a flare pass as he comes out of the backfield, if need be.
Of course, there are variations of this play, as there are for every play. If Croom wanted to bring the running back out of the backfield and have him line up in the slot on the left side, he would simply start the play call with "solo," meaning that the quarterback is alone in the backfield, and alter each player’s pass route accordingly.
For example, a play with a RB-less backfield could be "solo twins right scram left 22." When a play has just two digits, it means that the receivers on both sides of the field will run the same routes. In this case, "2" routes, or inside slants.
However, not all plays go as planned. The way a defense attacks an offense has plenty to do with the success of a play — as the Lions may very well find out here.

#3 QUARTERBACK STEPS IN THROWING THE DON CORYELL ROUTE TREE (BY TED TOLLNER):

Our setup areas vary according to the type of pass (route or pattern) being thrown. It is measured in length of stride:

- 1 and 2 (3 steps)

- 8,6,3,5 (3 and 2) (5 steps)

- 7,9,4 (5 and 2) (7 steps)

I still use the numbering system Sid Gillman used (in the 1950's with the Rams, & the 1960's with his great Chargers teams) BEFORE he went to the "3 digit" system. First digit = protection (& number of steps QB takes) - second digit tells all 5 receivers what to do.

In the early 1960's (when I began) EVERY successful college team did that.

All the ideas on how to call the pass plays are great. I think the biggest thing is what you believe in and what can your kids handle.

We use a tree too, the longest call we could make would be liek Northern open zip 787 option A fast. That is a formation that has been tagged to be w/out a TE, motion added, and a 5 man route package. I guess it's a little wordy, but it is about as many things as we'd do on one play, usually it's more like hornet right 787 option.